Capturing Your Best Headshot

Capturing Your Best Headshot

Priceless tips for getting the most out of your photo shoot



When it was time for me to get my first headshots, I was a nervous wreck. I don’t really consider myself photogenic and I had no idea how to "take good pictures." Typically, when I’m in front of a camera, I instantly spot all of my "flaws" and tend to be relentless with self-criticism, thinking, "Gawd, I hope all these pics don’t end up with fat face," or "My hair looks so flat and blah, I hate it," or "That angle makes me look gi-normous!"



I know, I know: my headshot looks fine (three good shots out of 100, or so I told myself). And I can’t believe how much I’ve used it … that headshot goes on everything! My articles, books, press releases, websites… for the independent professional, a good headshot is a crucial part of our branding. A good picture should showcase your energy, help you seem interesting to your customers, and give off a warm, inviting air.



I didn’t bring a stylist to my first shoot, but I did talk to some of my friends in the entertainment industry (whom I know from my former life doing artist management) and got some fabulous tips that can help all of us get better results from our shoots.



What should you wear to a photo shoot?

What do I wear? Most independent professionals want to get some shots with and without a jacket. I typically recommend bringing one or two jackets to the shoot. Ladies, pay special attention to your necklace or scarf, if you wear those—do a "test" shot initially to see how the accessories translate to the camera. If you’re accessorizing your neckline, keep your earrings simple, and vice-versa.



Bring color options and don’t shy away from detailed accents

When choosing what to wear, bring clothing with intricate detailing (like piping, beading, etc) on your necklines and sleeves, as the details often photograph really well and add an interesting dimension to your pictures. If you are unsure of the best colored tops or jackets for your skin type, bring a few options to the shoot and see how the colors work with the lighting, etc.



Dress comfortably in your style

For men, if you never wear a tie, don’t wear one in your pictures. If you wear polo shirts rather than dress shirts, make sure you get some shots accordingly. Most everyone will want shots in their suit jacket, even if they never wear a suit to "work."



Use a white background

Taking your pictures in front of a properly-lit, white background gives you the most creative flexibility with your pictures … you can place your image on your marketing materials seamlessly and you won’t need to worry about the picture "clashing" with your web design or your new book’s design. Your designer can also easily crop out the white background to float your image on different backgrounds.



Whatever you do, skip the Olan Mills backgrounds! And keep in mind that pics in front of bookcases, outdoors, etc, will have limited uses creatively.



Smile, smile, smile!

For men, especially, capturing your smile can be tough. But that’s all the more reason to smile for the camera. When people see your picture, you want to appear both respectable and approachable. Your picture should reveal how comfortable you are in your skin, and present you as someone who is warm, helpful, and ready to be of service. People make quick assumptions when they see your photo online, in a poster or in a brochure, so you might come across as hard to work with if you’re not smiling, especially men. You don’t need to cheese it, but a little tweak to the corner of your mouth goes a long way.



Give your best side to the camera

For most of us, the right or left side of our face will photograph better. For me, it’s the left side. Once you’ve experimented to find your best side, make sure you angle your body about 45 degrees to take a more slimming photograph (full-on camera shots can make you look wider than you are … remember, the camera likes to add 10 pounds!).



No more fat face!

If you tend to have a "double chin" in pictures like I do, before the camera clicks, simply lift your chin way up and bring it back down. This quick gesture helps put everything in its place. You can also extend your neck and slightly lift your chin. Experiment to find a natural-looking shot.



Everyone needs makeup—men included!

The most important part of creating a flawless-looking face is to start with a good foundation and loose powder. Most of us have uneven skin tone and / or other facial blemishes. I don’t typically wear foundation all-over, but I must for pictures. Match your skin color as closely as possible, taking care to blend your jawline, and keep your powder handy so you can touch-up throughout your shoot.



Matte makeup looks best on camera

Most women will want to darken their lips and cheeks at least a couple shades for contrast since the flash tends to lighten everything. Cindy Kubica, speaker and co-owner of Studio 10 Productions, says, "Make sure your makeup has good pigment, like MAC. Stay away from glossy or pearlized makeup because whenever that light hits a reflective surface, it’s gonna bounce back and make you look like you have a hole in your head! Matte makeup is your best bet."



Mesmerize with your eyes

"Dramatize the eyes," Kubica recommends. "If you have blonde lashes and brows (men included), darken them a couple shades so that you don’t look hairless." A brown or black-brown eyeliner can also do the trick. Also, do smile with your eyes, but don’t squint (my problem).



Pre-test your shots to make sure you like what you see

Before you start shooting, Kubica recommends having a preview shot taken. "Have the photographer take a picture of you straight-on to make sure you like your makeup and your hair before you get started," she advises. "Then, you can make any changes to you’d like before you start snapping."



Showcase your moves!

"We like movement in our shots," Kubica reveals. "We don’t like staged or posed shots. We call it ‘moving people into the shot’ by having them leave and move back into the position so they look ‘fresh’ and natural instead of staged." You want your pictures to capture your energy. If there is common gesturing that you do, capture it on film.



If you must stand still, don’t look closed off

Many independent professionals will take shots with their arms crossed in front of their chest. This is fine; just make sure that your fingers lay across the top of your arms on both sides. (Some people will tend to tuck one hand underneath the arm … don’t, as this closes you off.)



Mind your manicure

Make sure that your nails are clean and nicely filed. If your nail polish has even the slightest chip in it, it’s gonna show up in your pictures! If you are a nail biter, you will either need to avoid showing your hands in your photographs, or budget for retouching.



Shave off 5 pounds: Master the slimming secrets

As I mentioned, angling your body and lifting your chin can be helpful. For full-body shots, wear pants or skirts that are fitted (ie not baggy or too "loose") and lift your leg at the knee closest to the camera, lightly resting your toes on the ground.



Another great tip for waist-up or full body shots is to place your hands on the lower part of your hip so that the curve of your elbow balances the curve at your waistline. This will also slim your arms. Play around with the angle of your elbow (elbow pointing out or back at a 45 degree angle) to get it right.



To lengthen your neckline (especially if you have a shorter neck or heavier face), make sure your tops are scoop-necked or v-necked. This will open your face and make your smile more inviting.



Finally, if you have a fuller figure, it is likely that you are better off with waist-up or shoulders-up shots. And really pay attention to angling your body … turning a few inches can shave off a lot of breadth! Choose fabrics that are fitted to the body without clinging and showing unhappy lumps or curves. Watch for bra or panty lines.



Bring props to make your shots more interesting

If you use props in your presentations or as metaphors in your work, bring them to your shoot. I have one client who wears a red clown nose and passes a clown nose out to the attendees at her events … the pictures we got with that nose were priceless! Most importantly, we were able to showcase her fun side and this translates really well to her promotional materials.